The apex body of engineering export organisations, EEPC India, would showcase India’s capabilities and clout in the automobile services products at the Dubai Automechanika, being attended by business and technology leaders from 138 countries.

"We have approached the Commerce Ministry, stating that a sharp rise of over five per cent in rupee against the US dollar along with increase in prices of steel, is acting as a double whammy for engineering exporters in a highly competitive global market."

Analysing the latest trade data of February 2017 which saw over 48 per cent increase in engineering exports despite 1.70% appreciation of rupee against dollar, the apex organisation of the engineering sector found that be it European Union, North America, ASEAN , Middle East , or North East Asia, the engineering exports went up across the board to these destinations for the month.

According to EEPC India, Russia coming forward as the Partner Country in this event is a testimony to the stature achieved by IESS. India has a long standing partnership with Russia in engineering sector.

Encouraged by a smart recovery in engineering exports, EEPC with the support from the commerce ministry is working on a mega strategy to give a further push to these exports which involve large scale employment.

The statement comes soon after the government extended anti-dumping duty by two months on certain cold-rolled flat steel products from four nations including China and South Korea to guard domestic industry from cheap imports.

"With this iron and steel sector, which has been facing faced tough times in the past several months, is now seeing a reversal of fortunes at least in some of the key markets in Europe and in our neighbouring countries."

TKM which has its manufacturing plant in Bidadi in Bangalore Rural Karnataka, exports Completely Built Units (CBUs) like The Etios & Etios Liva and auto parts to Thailand, Brazil, Indonesia, Philippines, Argentina and South Africa.

The analysis by engineering exporters' body EEPC India shows that India's engineering exports are "fast losing a huge Chinese market, falling by annualised 57 per cent in September to USD 92.57 million from USD 216 million a year ago".

All the European nations falling under the top 25 engineering export destinations like UK, Germany, Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, France and Spain, recorded positive growth during Apr-Aug 2016-17 over Apr-Aug 2015-16.

"Any inversion in duty at this stage would be a big setback to the government's flagship programme of Make in India where the entire focus is on taking the country several notches up on the value and technology chain so that we become a factory of the world."

In fact, segment leaders like Maruti Suzuki, Tata Motors and Hero MotoCorp have reported de-growth of 34.3 per cent, 45 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively giving a clear indication of a prolonged slowdown in the sector.